Flow device for oil wells



April 28, 1942. A. BOYNTON FLOW DEVICE FOR OIL WELLS Filed Dec. 8, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l ALEXANDER BUY/VTU/V,

ATTORNEYS.

April 1942- A. BOYNTON 2,280,788

FLOW DEVICE FOR OIL WELLS Filed Dec. 8, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Maw ATTORNEYS.

. Patented Apr. 28, 1942 UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE FLOWDEVICE FOR OIL WELLS Alexander Boynton, San Antonio, Tex. Application December 8, 1932 Serial No. 308,322

9 Claims.

My invention relates to flow devices for wells.

The principal object is to prevent slippage of the well liquid from causing the flow device valves to be forced open and waste gas while the well is flowing.

Another object is to provide that the area acted upon by the valve seating force will be greater than the area of the valve.

Another object is to increase the volume of educed liquid.

Another object is to minimize emulsification of the oil during the flowing operation.

A further object is to provide a flow device especially adapted to be employed in deep wells.

1 attain the foregoing objects by means of similar devices adapted to be connected into the eduction tube at intervals which may vary between 150 to 300 feet. Each device has two valves adapted to close upon their respective seats responsive to difierent force values, the force required to seat one valve being relatively small; while the force required to seat the other valve is relatively great. Each valve is actuated by pressure fluid which enters the device from opposite directions or separate conduits and discharges into the eduction tube through a common opening, this common opening being closed by the valve requiring the greater force to seat it which causes the other valve to unseat then and to seat again soon after the high pressure valve unseats; all of which movements and the purposes thereby accomplished will be more completely set out and fully explained in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which -Fig. l is a longitudinal section through the preferred embodiment, part of the nipple portion being shown in outside view.

Fig. 2 is a cross section onthe line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a partial longitudinal section through a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 55, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a partial longitudinal section through another modified form of the invention, a part of the nipple portion being in outside view.

Fig. '2 is a cross section on the line '|l, Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a cross section on the line 88, Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a broken side view partly in central longitudinal section showing the devices in a well.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate similar parts throughout the several views of each embodiment.

The column of well liquid caused to upstand in the eduction tube in balance against the force of the pressure fluid will be referred to as the upstanding column.

The diflerence between the force of the pressure fluid employed to flow the well and the force exerted by the upstanding column will be referred to as the diil'erential.

It will be understood that expulsion of well liquid is accomplished by aeration of the upstanding column and that the pressure fluid is a constant force at any given value thereof, while the force exerted by the upstanding column varies according to distance above the base of the upstanding column, the valves being open or closed according to the difference between the value of the pressure fluid and the force exerted by the upstanding column.

In Fig. 1 the coupling member I, having the central passage la aligned with the opening through the tubing, is adapted to be threadedly joined into the tubing string. The lateral housing 2, which may be cast integrally with the member I, has a central longitudinal bore formed into the spring chamber 20, the upper plunger chamber 2b, the metering chamber 211, the passage 2f, the metering chamber 2i, and the lower plunger chamber 2h. The sloping upper and lower ends 2m and 2m of the housing serve as guides through the well casing.

The lower end of the chamber 20 forms the annular shoulder 2a. The lower end of the metering chamber M is formed into the valve seat 2e and the upper end of the metering chamber 27 is formed into the valve seat 29.

The plug 4, having the central opening 4a has threaded connection into the upper end of the housing 2. The lower plug 10, having the central opening Illa, has threaded connection'into the lower end of said housing.

The rod 5 has threaded connection with the intake member 3 and with the upper plunger 8. The coiled spring 6, having slight clearance within the chamber 20, has its upper end engaged under the fins 3c of the valve head 3 and its lower end seated upon the ring 1 landed upon the annular shoulder 2a. The fins 30 have clearance within the bore 20. The ring 1 has the large clearance Ia with the rod 5. The spring 6 normally causes the valve 3a of the head 3 to engage a seat upon the nether end of the plug 4.

The metering pin 31) extends upwardly from the valve and has its greatest diameter immediately above the valve 3a. It may be convexly tapered as appears. This pin, at the place of its greatest diameter, has slight clearance within the opening la.

The plunger} has the valve 8a adapted to engage the seat is and the depending extension lb adapted to be slidable within the passage 2!.

The extension 81) will extend slightly below the lateral opening 21: and close it when the valve 8a is seated upon the seat la. The plunger 8 has its portion of greatest diameter extending slightly within the upper end of the convexly tapered metering chamber 2d. The plunger 8 has slight clearance within the lower end of the metering chamber 2d when the valve 811 is seated and increasing clearance as the valve unseats.

The lower plunger 9, having its upper end formed into the valve 9a adapted to engage the seat 2g, has the depending convexly tapered metering pin 90 normally extending into the central opening la. The plunger 9 has the valve 9b formed upon it adapted to engage normally upon a seat central within the upper end of the plug I B.

The upper end of the plunger 9 extends slightly within the lower end of the downwardly expanding convexly tapered metering chamber 21' when the plunger is in its lowermost position as appears in Fig. 1. This plunger has only slight within the metering chamber 2d decreases as the valve in approaches its seat. Likewise, the clearance around the metering pin lc within the opening Ila increases and the clearance around the plunger 8 within the metering chamber 21 decreases as the valve 8a approaches its seat. It therefore is apparent that the greatest volume of pressure fluid will pass both plungers when they are approximately half way of theirgtravel toward their respective seats. This condition obviously may be varied by changing the tapers of the metering pins and metering chambers as difierent well conditions may require.

The smallest clearance around the plunger 8 being when the valve 80, is seated and this clearance ordinarily being very slight, such as two to ten thousandths of an inch, it follows that the volume of pressure fluid which will pass the plunger 8 will be slight until the valve 8a rises far enough from its seat to cause the plunger 8 to rise and close the valve 9a. This combination of valves, one opening when th other closes and one closing when the other opens, operates to adrnit the greatest volume of' pressure fluid into the 25 upstanding liquid columnwhen theload is heaviest clearance within the metering chamber 2} when the valve 911 is seated.

The spring 6 may be installed under such compression that the valve 3a will be unseated by the difierential force required to seat the valve 9a upon its seat 29. The force of the spring 6, for example, may be such that the valve in will unseat at 25 pounds differential and such that the valve 80. will seat at 100 pounds. The clearance around the plunger 9 and its metering pin 90 may be such that the valve 9a will seat at 25 pounds differential.

The path'of pressure fluid into the upstanding column of well liquid within the eduction tube is (1) through the opening Illa, the chambers 21:. and 27, the passage 2 and the lateral opening 21:: and (2) through the opening la, the chambars 20, 2b, 2d, the passage 21, and the lateral opening 27c.

It being assumed that the plungers 8 and 9 have equal clearance within their respective chambers, it is apparent that the unloaded valve 8a will seat before the spring loaded valve 80 will seat.

It is also apparent that as the valve is approaches its seat close enough for the extension 8b to close the opening 27c, while the valve 9a is seated, the pressure fluid draft past the plunger 9 will be interrupted and that the plunger 9' then will fall to the position shown in Fig. 1.

The entire intake of pressure fluid being then around the plunger 8, it is apparent that the valve 8a will seat soon thereafter or as soon as the proper diiferential force develops during the well flowing operation. 7

While the valve 8a is seated, if falling slugs of well liquid within the eduction tube should produce momentary false low differentials, the valve lawillbeunseated, butassoonasthisunseating movement progresses far enough to cause the extension Bb partially to uncover the lateral opening 21:, the valve 9a will again seat and thereby close the admission of pressure fluid into the tubing,

during low dificrentials and to restrict such flow of pressure fluid when the load lightens during higher differentials. At the same time, the lower valve 9 operates to check any excessive inflow of pressure fluid through the device during the existence of false low diiferentials.

In Fig. 4, illustrating a modified construction, parts and portions of parts similar in both constructions are indicated by the same reference characters as in Fig. l.

The lower plunger I 2, having the valves [2a and Nb formed upon it and having a depending extension l2c formed into a metering pin normally extending to proximate the lower end of the opening Ila of the plug I3, serves the same purpose as was stated for the plunger 9 in Fig. l but some of the lengths and diameters are diiferent to illustrate that difierent results may be accomplished by such changes. For example, the larger plunger i2 with less clearance around it than the plunger 9 has in 1, will cause its valve l2a to close at less differential than will be required to close the valve 90, Fig. l. The shorter metering pin [20 in Fig. 4 will allow the passing pressure fluid to increase in volume faster as the plunger 12 rises than the larger pin to in Fig. 1 would allow.

The valve Ilb in Fig. 4 is shown seated as it would be during high differentials in the flowing operation. The valve Ha normally engages lightly upon the seat llc upon the nether end of the baiiie ring M by force of the spring I. having some clearance with the chamber H and engaged between the member it and the nut l0 secured by the lock nut fl upon the rod I! having threaded engagement within the plunger II. The valve Ila preferably will be adjusted by means of slight compression of the spring II to open at one to ten pounds diiferential.

The depending extension c of the plunger II is shown closing the lateral opening 2!: in Fig. 4 similar to the operation of the extension lb in Fig. 1 during high differentials. This closing of the opening 2!: in Fig. 4 explains the lower positionof the plunger [2 during the existence of a high diflerential necessary to seat the valve The path of pressure fluid through this device is via the intake port is, the annular space Ila,

and that the clearance around the plunger I the openings l8b, the clearance lid, the sh bers 2b and 2d, the passage 2! and the lateral opening 2k. The fact that the nut l8 has very slight clearance within the chamber ll' forces the incoming pressure fluid to take the indicated path.

One of the important features of this invention is that the nut l6, having greatly larger area exposed to the differential force than that of the plunger I 4, will actuate the plunger in its traveltoward the seat 2e.

It will be observed that the metering pin 3b and the valve 3a in Fig. 1 are omitted from the construction in Fig. 4. The greatest volume of pressure fluid, therefore, will pass the upper plunger I4 during low differentials; while the lower plunger l2 will allow the greatest volume of pressure fluid to pass it when it is approximately half way of its travel toward the seat 2g. Otherwise than stated, the operation of the constructions illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 are identical.

At conclusion of the flowing operation, the construction illustrated in Fig. 1 will prevent drainage of the flow tubing if a check valve be employed therein proximate its lower end because, at such times, the valves 3a and 9b will be closed as appears. Likewise, the construction illustrated in Fig. 4 will prevent the tubing from draining its contents back into the well at conclusion of the flowing operation because the valves 12b and [4a will be closed then.

In Fig. 6, illustrating another modified construction, the coupling member 2| may be cast integrally with the lateral housing 22 having the upper sloping surface 30 and the lower sloping face 31 serving as guides through the well casing.

The upper end of the annular chamber 23 is formed into the valve seat 23a centrally of which seat the small annular chamber 24 extends upward to the cross bores 25 which communicate with the bore 42.

The annular plunger 21, having the valve 21a adapted to close upon the seat 23a, has slight internal clearance with the inner wall 41 of the chamber and slight external clearance with the outer wall 22. The plunger 21 is retained by the ring 28 having threaded engagement within the wall of the housing 22. The annular clearance 29 between the ring 28 and the shell 41 admits pressure fluid into the chamber 23.

The rod 4| has threaded engagement with the plunger 34 and with the valve member 31. The coiled spring 36 is engaged under some compression between the ring 32 and the fins 40 of the member 31 having the valve 39 engaged upon a seat formed upon the upper end of the plug 48 by force of the spring. The ring 32, having the large clearance 33 with the rod 4|, may be landed upon a small annular shoulder at the upper end of the chamber 50, as appears.

The convexly tapered metering pin 38 has slight clearance within the opening 49 proximately below the valve 39 and larger clearance below, as appears.

The plunger 34 has its upper end formed into the valve 35 adapted to engage the seat during which engagement there is only slight clearance between the plunger and the metering chamber 43, this clearance increasing with increasing distance from the seat.

The upper end of the plunger 34 normally is positioned slightly within the metering chamber 43.

The path of the pressure fluid into the eduction tube is (1) via the annular opening 29,

the lower annular chamber 23, the upper annular chamber 24, the cross bores 25, the chambers "and 43, the opening 44 and the cross bore 45, (2) via the opening 49, the chamber 50, the chambers 42 and 43, the opening 44 and the cross bore 45.

It will be observed that both paths of the pressure fluid unit above the cross bores 25.

The annular plunger 21 should have such small clearance around it as to cause it to seat before the valve 35 will seat after which seating the valve 21a will unseat and resume the position shown in Fig. 6, because the seating of the valve 35 closes the path of pressure fluid through the chamber 23. This path will be, of course, re-opened when the valve 35 unseats, as was explained for the differently constructed but similarly operated valves in Figs. 1 and 4.

The spring 35 may be of such force that the valve 39 will not unseat until the valve 21a has seated. Such adjustment provides that relatively large volumes of pressure fluid will pass through the device at low differentials and that metering will begin only after the valve 39 is unseated. Manifestly the volume of admitted pressure fluid will be controlled then by the metering pin 39 and the metering chamber 43 similar to the manner explained in connection with Fig. 1. The plugs 26 are employed to close the outer extremities of the cross bores 25.

In Fig. 9, illustrating the devices installed in a well, the casing head 53 is employed to accomplish a hermetic seal between the casing 52 and the tubing 51. One side opening of the casing head is shown closed by the bull plug 55, 'and the other side opening has the pressure fluid supply line 56 connected into it.

It will be understood that the flow devices may be spaced in the tubing at such distances apart that the well liquid between adjacent devices will exert a pressure equal to approximately one third to one half the difierential force required to close the spring-loaded valves.

The tubing 51, surrounded by the annular space 63, may have the perforations 59 proximate its lower end shown resting upon the bottom of the well 6 l. Well liquid from the producing formation 60 may enter the casing 52 via the gun perforations 62. I

Well liquid is assumed to be standing in both the casing and tubing at the level 64 when pressure fluid is turned into the annular space 53 fromthe pipe line 56. The normal liquid level 64 then becomes depressed in the casing to the level 65 and is caused to upstand in the tubing to the level 66.

The device 58 next above the level 55 will be intaking pressure fluid due to the relatively low diflerential then obtaining there, while the device next above the open one will be closed or closing, due to the relatively great difierential obtaining at that level.

As the liquid level 65 is lowered by flowing, the next lower valve will be uncovered in the open position, due to the slight differential then obtaining there, while the next upper valve will be closed, or closing, and so on until the well is pumped off or until the level is reached at which the rate of inflow and outflow will be equal.

Manifestly the invention as herein disclosed is subject to many minor changes and adaptations wherein mechanical equivalents may be substituted for the parts shown, and I reserve the right to make such changes, substitutions, and

an annular seat therefor in said lower chamber at the lower end of said passage, there being fluid passages communicating from the exterior into said upper chamber and said lower valve chamber respectively.

2. A flow nipple, a lateral housing thereon, an upper valve chamber therein, a lower valve chamber, a cylindrical passage connecting said chambers, a lateral outlet from said passage to the interior of said flow nipple, a valve in said upper chamber, a seat therefor at the upper end of said passage, means to hold said valve resiliently oil its seat, a cylindrical extension on the lower side of said valve adapted to close said outlet as said valve approaches its seat, an archately tapered lower end on said upper chamber above said seat, a lower valve in said lower chamher, and a removable annular seat therefor in said lower chamber, there being fluid passages communicating from the exterior into said upperchamber and said lower valve chamber respectively.

3. A flow nipple, a lateral housing thereon, an upper valve chamber therein, a lower valve chamber in alignment with said upper chamber, there being an inlet for each of said chambers, a cylindrical passage connecting said chambers, a lateral outlet from said passage to the interior of said flow nipple, a valve in said upper chamber, a seat therefor at the upper end of said passage, means to hold said valve resiliently off its seat, valve seats at the upper and lower ends of said lower chamber, a valve member formed to fit said seats and movable from one seat to the other by difierential fluid pressures in said lower chamber, said valve member being adapted to close to its lower seat when flow of fluid in said passage is cut off, and means on said upper valve to cut off said flow.

4. In a differential flow device, a nipple, a

housing thereon, upper and lower valve chambers therein, a fluid passage connecting said chambers, there being a lateral opening from said passage to the interior of said nipple, a valve stem in said upper chamber, an upper valve on said stem, an inlet port having a seat to receive said valve, a lower valve on said stem, a seat therefor at the upper end of-said passage, a cylindrical extension on said lower valve to fit within said passage and close said lateral opening as said lower valve approaches its seat, a spring positioned to hold said upper valve normally closed and said lower valve normally open, means to meter the passage of fluid past said valves to permit greatest volume of flow when said valves are in an intermediate position, an inlet to said lower chamber, upper and lower seats in said lower chamber and a valve movable between the seats oi. said lower chamber.

5. In a diiferential flow device, a nipple, a housing thereon, upper and lower valve chambers therein, a fluid passage connecting said chambers there being a lateral opening from said passage to the interior of said nipple, a valve stem in said upper chamber, an upper valve on said stem, an inlet port having a seat to receive said valve, a lower valve on said stem, a seat therefor at the upper end of said passage, a cylindrical extension on said lower valve to fit within said passage and close said lateral opening as said lower valve approaches its seat, a spring positioned to hold said upper valve normally closed and said lower valve normally open, an inlet to said lower-chamber, upper and lower seats in said lower chamber, a check valve member movable between said seats, said check valve being adapted to close against its upper seat before said lower valve engages its seat, said check valve seating on its lower seat when said extension closes said lateral opening.

6. In a flow device for wells, a nipple, a housing thereon, upper and lower valve chambers in said housing, said chambers having inlets thereto, a passage connecting said chambers, a lateral port in said passage communicating with the interior of said nipple, arcuately tapered walls on said chambers adjacent said passage, valve seats in said chambers at the ends of said passage, a valve in said upper chamber formed to fit loosely in said tapered portion and to engage its seat, a cylindrical extension on said valve to extend into said passage and cut off flow of'fluid to said lateral port as said valve approaches its seat and thereby prevent quick opening of said valve under false difierentials, a spring positioned to hold said valve resiliently off its seat, and a check valve in said lower chamber adapted to close against the outward passage of fluid when an outward surge of fluid occurs under false differentials.

7. In a flow device for wells, a nipple, a housing thereon, upper and lower valve chambers in said housing, a passage connecting said chambers, a lateral port in said passage communicating with the interior of said nipple, arcuately tapered walls on said chambers adjacent said passage, valve seats in said chambers at the ends of said passage, a valve in said upper chamber formed to fit loosely in said tapered portion and to engage its seat, a cylindrical extension on said valve to extend into said passage and cut off flow of fluid to said lateral port as said valve approaches its seat and thereby prevent quick opening of said valve under false diiferentials, a spring positioned to holdsaid valve resiliently oil its seat, inlet ports to said upper and lower chambers, a double ended valve in said lower chamber movable between its upper and lower seats, saiddouble ended valve being moved by differential fluid pressures thereon to close on its upper seat before said first mentioned valve closes and to drop to its lower seat when flow of fluid to said nipple is closed off.

8. A flow device for wells including a flow nipple, a housing thereon, upper and lower valve chambers in said housing, there being an inlet for each of said chambers, a passage connecting said chambers, said passage having a lateral port into said nipple, valve seats in said chambers at the ends of said passage, conversely tapered walls .in each of said chambers adjacent said seats, valves in said chambers adapted to engage said seats, said valves each having a cylindrical body cooperating with said tapered walls to meter the passage of fluid to said passage.

9. A flow device for wells including a flow nipple, a housing thereon, upper and lower valve chambers in said housing, there being an inlet for each of said valve chambers, a passage connecting said chambers. said passage having a lateral port into said nipple, valve seats in said chambers at the ends of said passage, conversely tapered walls in each of said chambers adjacent said seats, valves in said chambers adapted to n a e said seats, said valves each having a cylindrical body cooperating with said tapered Walls to meter the passage of fluid to said passage, a spring resiliently supporting the valve in said upper chamber, whereby the lower valve will seat before the upper one, and means to close of! passage of fluid to said port as said upper valve approaches its seat.

ALEXANDER BOYNTON. 

